PCOS, hair growth, and Atkins

[violet30]

On the main Atkins board, someone asked if anyone has seen a change in hair growth, as in, has less grown.

I have PCOS, and along with it, I started growing hair where I really do not want it: Tummy, chest, chin.

I have read that once you start to get the PCOS reversed, the hair growth will stop.

My doctor said that losing much of my excess weight will help make the PCOS symptoms better. I hope this means the hair growth as well.

Does anyone have any info on this?

[DramaDame]

I have heard the same info and in the Schwarzbein Principle, it is briefly mentioned as something the doctor experienced with her Stein-Leventhal syndrome ( PCOS basically) and that it went away with her new life style. I can only hope!!!! :)

[violet30]

DramaDame, I too hope that the new lifestyle makes the hair go away! Waxing is getting expensive...not to mention painful!!!

[Corvidae]

Yes, I believe it does happen.

I've noticed that the unwanted furry places that I have are thinner, lighter, and don't regrow as quickly after removal. And it's a very welcome change.

I do hope they vanish entirely soon.

[chickface]

Hey...

I don't have any answers for you, but I will let you know you're not alone. It's so embarrassing when my boyfriend wants to put his hand on my stomache and my belly button has hair like a man. UGH... I don't want to shave because it'll just get worse so I've been plucking them for about 2 years now. If I had money, I'd get electrolisis.

I hope for both of our sakes that the hair does stop growing... and even that the hair we have will go away. Good Luck!

[Hiz Baby]

I have had pcos since just after my son was born, he is now 11 and no doctors could help me with anything. :mad:

The weight gain, the hair growth on the face and stomach and the hair loss on my head. I have noticed since limiting my carbs on the Zone my hair loss is much less. I'm starting Atkins tomorrow and am hoping it will help the hair on my face--as well as to help me lose the last 25-30 pounds that won't seem to budge.

I'll keep checking in here and if I notice anything change in the way of my "beard" I'll let you know.

Good luck and keep me posted as well. :wave:

[Curvylady]

Hi, I'm new here, & saw your posts. I have PCOS, too, and have been low-carbing since fall of 2001. I have noticed that the hair on my forarms has completely changed from thick and very dark, to thin and now blonde. I believe the low-carb has made the difference. If you are thinning on your head, make sure you are getting LOTS of protein--that should help.

[zedgirl]

I was diagnosed PCOS when I was in my early twenties and then undiagnosed by another doctor and told that I was just sensitive to male hormones. Regardless of what the doctors say I have all the typical PCOS symptoms. I've been low carbing for 9 weeks now and have noticed a definite difference in hair growth, especially on my legs. I'm a long term waxer (20 years) and would always have strong dark regrowth about 10 days after a wax. It's now been 4 weeks since my last wax (actually I use one of those little epilating? machines now) and there's hardly any regrowth and what there is is very sparse so far. My acne also cleared up during the first 2 weeks on induction. For me low carbing has been like stumbling across some secret miracle cure for a health problem that has plagued me all my life!

Regards,
Zedgirl

[pepsi max]

after 20 years of hair growing in the wrong places, i started lc-ing for my diabetes 2 years ago.the hair growth now has all but stopped.the bit i have left is much finer and i don,t have to pluck it as often.i thought i was going to end up as the bearded lady.this was the best side effect of lc-ing that i could imagine

[T:)]

Less hair growth????

No more plucking????

I've been LCing for all of 5 days now and this has got to be the most exciting news yet!!

I'd eat mud if it would take this hair away!! :p

[pepsi max]

to t ,hope this gave you some encouragment to stick with low carb.i can now wear lower cut t-shirts without first checking my chest from all angles.it,s wonderful and totally unexpected.i think the hair growth started to decline after about 1 year(that i noticed)but i didn,t quite believe it.now i know it,s all neary gone.i don,t even carry emergency tweezers any more.i only wish dr. a had left me with more boobs but i suppose we can,t have everything..

[LisaUK]

I've been LCing for about 3 months and I've noticed that the facial hair isn't as strong as it was. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the other PCOS symptoms will start to dwindle too.

[T:)]

Well, I have definitely noticed a decrease in the hair growth on my face.
It is not quite as course either! Yea!

Mostly all my other PCOS symptoms have disappeared except
the absent periods. Crossing my fingers on that one!

I would love to be able to manage my PCOS without any
medications!!

Geez....
I wish I would have started LCing years ago!!!!

[ironpoodle]

:daizy:
Adkins is a great diet for women with pcos. When your insulin levels are low you are much less likely to produce high testosterone levels from your ovaries and as a result less new hair growth. It won't reverse the hair back to normal though.

[lizzi.uk]

I am new here, and I can't tell you how much reading other peoples stories is helping me! I have been low carbing for about two years and have lost 70 pounds. I too have noticed a change in hair growth, which has always been bad and depressing! I strongly believe that low carbing helps, as it lowers your weight which helps syptoms and lowers yours insulin resistence which causes problems. Good luck stay with it!

[drchickon]

Wow, I had never even thought about that. As a matter of fact, the Atkins site has a survey up asking what health condition you are most concerned about, and PCOS was listed. I couldn't figure out why. I started Atkins to lose weight and feel more confident that I am doing something good for myself, but now to hear that it will help my PCOS too!!!??!! Fantastic! I actually had noticed a difference in my leg hair especially, but now I will pay more attention to the rest. Thanks for sharing everyone, you totally made my day! :wiggle:

[jordy05]

I am 30 knew I had PCOS when i was 15 as I had a cyst removed off my ovaries, I had one child through IVF and desperate for another I went to the doctors and she told me to buy the atkins book (as I am also IR, just found out,,, i know falling apart,lol)
In 15 years and millions of doctors i have seen and in all those years I have never really found out much about the disease,, amazing since i went through IVF and no one ever said i could have or needed meds for the condition,,,, untill now I have been in the dark,, thanks to you guys and this forum I have learnt more in 10 days than I have in 15 years,,,, keep going and reply to my journal if you want to keep in touch,,,and wish me luck conceiving baby number 2,,,, bye

[Leanna]

I'm so glad to have read this thread! I thought I was crazy thinking that the Atkins diet was improving my hair growth. I've been doing this wol since May/03 and I noticed a difference immediately. I went from waxing my face every week to now just once a month. I'm still losing handfuls of hair on my head every morning but I have lots of regrowth now too so I'm hoping that it will quit falling out so fast after I've been doing this longer. My periods also regulated themselves too. I seem to have to stay in 20-30 grams carbs a day though for it to work. I was hoping i could go a bit higher for maintenance but as soon as I do the hairy lip returns. Maybe after a year or so my body will be fixed enough that I could up the carb level? Oh well, I'm just happy not shaving my toes every morning now!

[Haltam]

Hello. I have had PCOS (diagnosed in 1982) most of my life and have very dark, fairly thick and virulent hair growth on my chin, upper lip, sideburn area, etc. and have lost 40lbs. on Atkins so far, am taking Spironolactone and Glucophage and have noticed no difference in my hair growth. I had hoped that between the weight loss and the Spironolactone I would start to see a decrease but it hasn't happened for me. Very depressing.

I just wanted to share my story but hopefully someone else out there has more upbeat news or other options. My hair is even resistant to waxing. It's very coarse. I hate it!!

Good Luck with yours.

[DevonGalxx]

WOW, i can't tell you how excited i feel lol , i've just joined this board today and already found this board on pcos....then i find out that low carbing may reduce some effects of pcos, i've been diagnosed pcos for about 5 years and if i'd known all this before i would have LC'd years ago lol
Better late then never , i'm on day 5 of induction and feeling "ok", and even happier now i've read this post, T:) your reply sounded alot like mine, i am also awaiting Af (cycle) to come back and possibly ovulation, and maybe even pregnancy but 1 thing at a time for me i'd just be happy losing a few pounds.
I'm going to avoid the metformin for a while now after reading another post but just to hear that the hair growth may slow/fade makes me want to leap around and sing lol
Bye for now Tracey xx

[ItsTheWooo]

Though I was never officially diagnosed I am sure I had pcos as I suffered from all hallmark symptoms (high testosterone levels exacerbated by insulin resistence).

After being on low carb for 10 months, I can share with you the following improvements, all of which I attribute to normalizing my testosterone and hormone levels from lowering my insulin production:

1) Moods have become stabilized, I don't feel as tempermental and aggressive as I did before. I also do not feel as prone to depression.
2) The excess hair growth has stopped forming a new, but the existing hair has thinned out considerably. My arms are no where near as hairy as they were before, the hair there is barely noticable now. Also when I wax or tweeze the excess hair which is still noticable (such as on the sides of face or under the chin), it grows in finer and slower than before.
3) The acne I suffered with my whole life cleared up almost entirely within a few days of starting LC. This amazed me. I now have flawless skin that never breaks out, even though I am still overweight.
4) The greasyness of my skin has decreased considerably.
5) Before I started low carb I never had periods. I now have them regularly every month. I also ovulate every month.

So there you have it folks. LC pretty much drastically improved or totally reversed all of my PCOS symptoms. Of course, if I overdo it with high GI carbs (such as maltodextrin abuse i.e. eating too much splenda), all my symptoms return. But sticking faithfully to controlled carb has helped me keep the insulin and other hormones in check.

My only complaint is the hair on my head is still thin, and has still been falling out a lot. However, I attribute this hairloss to weight loss induced stress, and I assume it will stop (and grow in a little thicker) once weight loss is stopped. I was born with very thick hair, however due to the PCOS my hair is now on the thinner end of average. I am hopeful that in maintenence it will grow back in a little thicker, although because many of the hair folicles were killed by the high extra testosterone I am not expecting my natural thickness back.

[Grimalkin]

Well, I think I could have written ItsTheWoo's post up there. Except that I've been on moderate-carb for 7 months, and then Atkins for the last 4 (got best results for PCOS here). But yes, the nasty symptoms of PCOS do go away in time. I have also noticed skin tags shrinking; those seem to take awhile longer as I've heard does Acanthosis Nigricans.

My only complaint is the hair on my head is still thin, and has still been falling out a lot. However, I attribute this hairloss to weight loss induced stress, and I assume it will stop (and grow in a little thicker) once weight loss is stopped. I was born with very thick hair, however due to the PCOS my hair is now on the thinner end of average. I am hopeful that in maintenence it will grow back in a little thicker, although because many of the hair folicles were killed by the high extra testosterone I am not expecting my natural thickness back.

Mine is thinner too, but I'm not giving up hope entirely. I'm not sure testosterone kills follicles (in fact I think the alopecia is called "nonscarring" for that reason), and if it did treatments like Rogaine wouldn't work at all. Also maybe the reason people who use it usually get only partial regrowth is because they haven't really addressed the underlying insulin disorders as we are doing. Maybe it'll all come back, who knows? Consider how doctors usually treat PCOS, how unsatisfactory the results often are, and the miracles we are experiencing here through simple diet modification (a diet many of them would discourage!).

[MyJourney]

as I've heard does Acanthosis Nigricans

you mean these horrible discolorations will eventually go away?

I am so self conscious because I have it around my upper inner thighs and I thought they would never leave me. I have tried creams and even stuff like coco butter and nothing seemed to help.

The hair on my face is still going strong but the hair on my head seems to be getting slightly better.

After I get to my goal I will laser it all anyway.

I want to get to the point where I dont pull away every time my boyfriend tries to touch my face because I am paranoid about them feeling some stubble or a stray hair I missed.

[Grimalkin]

you mean these horrible discolorations will eventually go away?
Well, I have some darkish areas on the backs of my knees that are lightening up. A Google search will show you similar testimony from other women with different degrees of AN, many of whom are seeing it get better from LC. But I haven't heard anyone yet say it goes away entirely, nor that it improves to a point and stops, so I guess we'll see.

After I get to my goal I will laser it all anyway.

There may not be much left to laser by the time you get to goal. My unwanted hair just stopped growing back within a period of months.

I just want to add, I've been using natural progesterone cream in addition to low carbing and it has worked well for me. You should check with your doctor first, but it can be used to suppress ovulation so that your ovaries have a chance to heal up the little cysts while your hormones get balanced. After years of anovulation I was in dire need of the stuff anyway, and it may have accelerated the healing a bit for me.

[zedgirl]

After I get to my goal I will laser it all anyway.



These days they use lasers for getting rid of all sorts of things like freckles, birth marks, spider veins and tattoos so when you look into laser hair removal ask them about your skin discoloration.....I'm sure there'll be a laser treatment for that too.

[ItsTheWooo]

Oh yes, I forgot to mention the skin tags... before LC i had slightly dark patches on the sides of my neck and very dark patches on the insides of my thighs. Today, the ones on my neck have completely vanished and the thighs have lightened to the point of being barely noticable.

[Squid]

I have been low carbing for about 10 months now. But for about 6 of those months I wasn't as strict as I could be. After reading these posts I'm going to get more serious and see if some of the side effects of PCOS I'm having might go away.

I have stopped growing skin tags and all but two have disappeared. The AN seems better too. Unfortunately, my acne is as bad as ever (bad!) and the hair growth on face is bad.

I've had PCOS for 20 years. About 15 years ago my hair really thinned out a lot and then stopped and I haven't had trouble with it since.

And the best thing is that I'm finally able to lose weight.

Oh yeah, and my mood!!! Huge improvement there.

I read something interesting a few years ago about PCOS. They believe there may be a counterpart to it in men which causes balding and stoutness. I wonder if this might account for the trouble it seems a lot of us are having with thinning hair.

Squid

[DevonGalxx]

I read a similar thing a while back , that if there was early balding in the men in your family , Dad, Grandad or uncles then it may be passed down as the results we get with pcos. I've not read much on this but it rings true slightly with me as my grandad started balding at young age, although my father has a full head of thick hair and he is in his late 50's.
Also my mum was only 8 stone when she married dad and when she had us kids she started getting the effects i have , facial hair, larger belly and a few other things, although she has always kept a regular menstrual cycle where as mine stopped completly over a year ago she doesn't want to be checked out for pcos but i have my suspicions lol. My sister also has pcos although she still has her menstrual cycle etc.
I guess i drew a short straw somewhere lol but i rather i had it this bad then any other member of my family.
I've been Lc for nearly 3 weeks , and have already noticed a differance in Mood , i think my hair growth is slowing and i feel a whole lot better alot more energy.
Bye for now Tracey x :wiggle:

[odyssey]

i spoke with my doctor about this the other day.
He said the glucophage i take will help with this though it might take six months to a year to notice. Also weight loss will as well.
i've also known some women who take spironolactone(sp)-a mild time released diuretic- with varying degrees of success.

i think i would have a full beard if i didn't shave almost daily(not to mention my chest and stomach). i also have skin tags on my arms and neck and dark patches on my wrists, inner thighs and breasts(which look like finger print bruises). i seem to have just about every one of the "classic" symptoms, including the cysts. It would be lovely if some of them began to abate a bit.

[Leanna]

I'm so glad to hear low carbing is helping others too. I've tried to tell others in my family how much Atkins has helped my PCOS symptoms but they never believe me. It is so great to have stable moods now and not always yelling at everybody! Before Atkins I didn't even realize how moody I was. My 7 year old asked the other day why I don't yell anymore? It made me teary eyed to think I could have gone on forever without low carbing. I'm so thankful for my "mustache" now because if it wasn't for that I would never have stumbled on to Atkins looking for a cure. I've been doing it for 9 months now and I'm still amazed at all the good results. I only wax once a month now and I can do it at home. I'm up to about 50 grams of carbs a day now and still hair free so my body is definately healing! The hair regrowth on my head is at least 6 inches long so I'm almost out of the fuzzy head stage! Thank-you Dr. Atkins!

Leanna

[Grimalkin]

I'm up to about 50 grams of carbs a day now and still hair free so my body is definately healing!

I have been wondering about this: if I will ever be able to increase my carbs from 25 and not have a total relapse. Great to hear that healing is possible.

The hair regrowth on my head is at least 6 inches long so I'm almost out of the fuzzy head stage! Thank-you Dr. Atkins!

Leanna

Wow, congrats! I'm so excited that I may actually be PCOS-free someday. At some level (before LC) I think I had accepted that I was going to be cursed this way for life, along with all of those nasty symptoms. Thanks for sharing your success!

[tessbook]

Ok, I just HAVE to share this with y'all. I was reading this thread a few days ago, and could really relate. I've got hair everywhere a woman doesn't want hair! Yikes. Anyway, I read one response from a woman who was talking about having hair on her chest, and having to check herself in the mirror constantly. I was thinking "Gee, I think that's the one single place where I don't have excess hair". That night I had a dream - I not only had hair on my chest, I had a pelt! I'm talking werewolf-type pelt. It started just below my neck and stopped at my waist - too funny. In my dream I was thinking, "Oh, great. How the heck do I get rid of THIS?" Wax on, my sisters!
Franny

[leasmom]

I was unofficially diagnosised PCOS about 2 yrs ago. The college campus doctor said I had all the symptoms but she couldn't test at the schools clinic to be for sure. I went to her because I had skin tags and had missing periods for 6 months at a time for 2 yrs-(it's was nearly 4 yrs before LCing). I wasn't able to have another child which has caused alot of problems with my only child who feels she's the only one on earth without a sibling.

Now that I have been LCing almost 4 months, my skin tags have lightened and nearly gone away, the hair on my face has slowed and the hair around the areola of my nipple has become light and slowed.

My moods...I used to be so upset over the littliest thing and now its normal. I'm also losing weight and losing that horrible PCOS gut, though slowly. But, I feel better about myself and I am hoping that oneday I can have another child and complete the family I always wanted.

[DevonGalxx]

Well i've now got a real cycle back!!! i'm soooo happy i've not felt this good and this happy for such a long time. I've only had 2 in a row but that's better then i've had since i was 16 lol i'm not sure if i've actually started ovulating or if it's just periods i will find out soon from the doctor.
Maybe someday i will have that child that i thought i would never have but i try not to think of that bit too much at the moment. But i'm also happy with the weight loss i feel great!!! And i've started to learn to drive as i feel so confident about everything at the moment.
I can not believe the change that Atkins has had on my life the hair loss has slowed, the 1 skin tag that i had has gone,skin is better, hair's looking loads better which was always greasy and thin before. I'm not finding it hard work i don't even think of things such as chocolate which i loved before.
Thanks for all your help and support!! And i just love reading the other sucess stories.

[SarahBinLA]

Violet, I too have the hair growth problem.

My physician said that sometimes hirsutism can only be controlled through hormones or permanent removal such as laser. I am hoping and praying that he is wrong!

[mommyrn]

After years of these and other symptoms (rolling chills, night sweats, night-time thirst) my doctors still haven't even offered to run a test for PCOS (checked thyroid: negative, checked for diabetes: negative) Anyway, I know I've just felt better on low carb and I'm headed back for this. Not to mention that my husband and personal trainer embrace a low carb lifestyle, though theirs is called Paleolithic Diet.

I'm anxious to see how my symptoms react to this diet this time around.

[lmduran]

Excesss androgens is what causes the thinning hair on our heads but unwanted hair on the acceptable manly areas...

I was diagnosed with PCOS Feb 2006...
Just went to the doctors. No more pcos. Not only have I lost the masculine hair, but even the natural peach fuzz hair I had is gone to. I am still loosing the hair on my head and this time around on my eyebrows, lashes, legs etc but it is due to an auto immune disorder I have... and having a flare up.

So yes, PCOS although doctors say is not curable...is controlable, to the point your fsh and other hormones will reallign and ovaries will be less cystic. Also I have been taking black cohosh to help with the estrogen part.

[heartform]

I'm loosing weight super slowly, but I'm keeping up hoping that the hair growth will stop, or at least slow. *sigh I wish these doctors would isolate what makes some people bald on top, and put it on my face. I'd be happy to give the balding whatever it i that makes my man hair grow with vengeance.

[lmduran]

Since I posted last, I have been to the doctor 3 more times for other issues. My ovaries are no longer cystic, although I have other issues. I no longer have facial hair, on the contrary I have to use a cream to grow my eyebrows back! I am loosing all of my hair and now have alopecia. I have a medicated shampoo, a foam, a liquid, and others, that I have to use to reduce inflamation and redness and itchyness. ... If its not one thing its another.
Obviously, controlling the weight helps, but another way to help with the weight loss is exercise. I do zumba and dance central and kinect sports and kinect adventures with my kids, and also go to the gym for some killer cardio conditioning. I am not loosing the weight as fast as I once was, but I am still loosing it.

[OceanRoad]

To everyone here who thought they'd never have a baby to to PCOS - and I was one - I low carbed and had an oops baby (best surprise ever!!) but I was so SURE I couldn't I didn't know I was pregnant for ages. SO :o - everyone was like, how could u not know...but y'know wth PCOS I had a bg belly and absent menses were nothing out of the ordinary....anyway long story short....you can & probably will.

But yeah, I'm going strict on low carb again to help stabise mood swngs and belly hair etc

[Julizzler]

Oh My Goodness! This thread needs to be a must read for people suffering with PCOS... it makes me feel so much better and not alone! :) Yes, I've experienced the relief of symptoms the last two times I did atkins, didn't realize the impact the difference had on me. This low carb is going to have to be permanent! YES! for buttered steak!

[Zuleikaa]

One of the most important things for women with PCOS is to limit carbs and to have optimum vitamin D levels.

Have you had your vitamin D3 level tested? Vitamin D is a master hormone that directs other hormones. Having optimum vitamin D levels will equalize other hormone levels and reverse PCOS.

Women who had PCOS and weren't able to conceive were able to conceive once their vitamin D levels were optimize.

Women who have PCOS are able to have regular periods when supplementing with pharmacological levels of vitamin D3.

[Jenevere]

Wow, I can empathise with each of you. I have been insulin resistant since childhood. I remember at only seven years old, my mother commenting how I had such a gut and carried my weight like a man. When I hit puberty, I began growing hair in all the wrong places (and still do, at age 34). I have never been less than obese, ever, ever. I was formally diagnosed with PCOS in 2005 after the birth of my first child.

I have been LC for the last three weeks - thus far, if I keep my fats much higher than my protein, the hair growth slows dramatically.

I also keep spearmint tea in the fridge and drink two big glasses of it instead of water throughout the morning. I began the spearmint tea before I began LC, and it does make a good difference by helping to bring down levels of free testosterone.

[donnahill8]

Grimlkin wrote-I just want to add, I've been using natural progesterone cream in addition to low carbing and it has worked well for me. You should check with your doctor first, but it can be used to suppress ovulation so that your ovaries have a chance to heal up the little cysts while your hormones get balanced. After years of anovulation I was in dire need of the stuff anyway, and it may have accelerated the healing a bit for me.

Just had my hormone checked Monday and waiting for the results. Suspect low progesterone. I should bc I was during last 2 prenancies, which contributed to years of infertility. I had to take progestin the first 14 weeks of both pregnancies to maintain them. Now, looking at it as the cause of hypothyroid type symptoms such as head hair loss, no libido, slow weight loss, sleep disturbances, and many, many others small annoying things. I hope progesterone cream is the answer and I had thought of this earlier, like 1 1/2 years ago.

Donna

[jaslenesma]

This is all really reassuring. I was diagnosed with PCOS at 15 I am now 25. I never thought I would have children and we were blessed with a daughter 3 years ago. At 25 I have hair growth on my chin, upper lip, chest, stomach, back. I hate it. I also have noticed thinning hair in my crown. My husband today rubbed by head and asked if I was going bald. This was the last straw for me. I need to lose weight not only for me but for my family. Other issues I have are dry skin on my feet, elbows, neck and corners of mouth, skin tags and the thick velvet skin around my neck. My appearance has dropped since gaining weight after having my child. I am really happy to see that there is a chance these things will improve. Thank you ladies for sharing your stories. I am starting my low carb today.

[tamara84]

Wow!!! I feel so encouraged right now. I have every symptom imaginable. The acne is good now, but use to be bad. My ovaries aren't very cystic, but my reproductive endo explained to me that people get confused thinking it's a disease of the ovaries when in fact it's a disease of the endocrine. My endo told me I have Pcos on steroids! I want a sibling for my 3 yr old son. I was told he was a lucky shot. I'm doing this to be healthy for myself and son and if I can't have more kids I'll be ok. I was blessed with one beautiful boy!

[Jenevere]

Wow!!! I feel so encouraged right now. I have every symptom imaginable. The acne is good now, but use to be bad. My ovaries aren't very cystic, but my reproductive endo explained to me that people get confused thinking it's a disease of the ovaries when in fact it's a disease of the endocrine. My endo told me I have Pcos on steroids! I want a sibling for my 3 yr old son. I was told he was a lucky shot. I'm doing this to be healthy for myself and son and if I can't have more kids I'll be ok. I was blessed with one beautiful boy!


I have severe PCOS also Tamara, and my daughter was a VERY unexpected surprise! Imagine the even bigger surprise when my son came along five years later... at age 33. Well past my "prime" and I was certainly not trying.

But I had lost 15 lbs and was on metformin.

It can be done (even by accident), have faith in yourself!

[wannasmile]

I have a couple questions. I have been dealing with PCOS almost my whole adult life. I wasn't officially diagnosed until I tried to have my son at 28y/o, but given my symptoms my doctor said I had probably had it since I was 16. The hair growth is horrible and makes me feel gross. Has anyone had any success with laser hair removal after weight loss? My other question is about skin tags. I also find them quite gross. Has anyone ever had them removed and what is the process? I need to lose the weight and then take care of all these things. My face used to be so nice and now I am dealing with facial hair, ingrown hair, acne scars. Whatever am I going to do??? :help:

[lc4good]

Like many of us, you may find all of your PCOS related symptoms lessen over time when you are low carbing. It did for me!

[leemack]

I have a couple questions. I have been dealing with PCOS almost my whole adult life. I wasn't officially diagnosed until I tried to have my son at 28y/o, but given my symptoms my doctor said I had probably had it since I was 16. The hair growth is horrible and makes me feel gross. Has anyone had any success with laser hair removal after weight loss? My other question is about skin tags. I also find them quite gross. Has anyone ever had them removed and what is the process? I need to lose the weight and then take care of all these things. My face used to be so nice and now I am dealing with facial hair, ingrown hair, acne scars. Whatever am I going to do??? :help:

I've had some laser hair removal and it was successful, though I had to stop after a few treatments due to finances - that was 4 or 5 years ago, and the effects from those few treatments are still evident (a little growback, but still better than it was). I hope to continue when finances improve, but I have the best hair and skin type - very dark thick hair and very pale skin, which looks horrendous but responds best to laser treatment. I found the treatment quite painful, but this was because I have very thick hairs, apparently, and you can use anasthetic gel.

Lee